Read on to learn more about zombie trees and how to handle them if they’re on your property!
In television shows and movies, zombies captivate our imaginations with their scary movements and hunger for life. These fictional beings appear alive but lack true consciousness. Similarly, something just as spooky can lurk in your own yard. These trees might look alive at first, but underneath, they are more like zombies than you’d think. Read on to learn more about zombie trees and how to handle them if they’re on your property!
What Makes a Tree a Zombie Tree?
A zombie tree is basically a tree that appears alive, but it’s already dying or dead. Unlike healthy trees, zombie trees have insufficient amounts of nutrients and energy, even though their exterior might show green leaves or buds. These trees are in the initial stages of decay and are losing their structural integrity, meaning they pose legitimate risks to their surroundings. What makes zombie trees dangerous? As they lose their structural integrity, they are prone to falling – potentially damaging homes, cars, power lines, or injuring people. Zombie trees are like ticking time bombs, waiting for the perfect gust of wind, rainfall, or a snowstorm to make them fall.
Indications You Have a Zombie Tree
While a zombie tree may still look healthy at first, there are many signs you can look for to determine if a tree is at risk:
- Broken or brittle branches: zombie trees tend to have dead branches that can snap off quite easily. They’re weak and can fall with no warning
- Little to no foliage: Healthy trees have thick, full canopies, but zombie trees could have thinning canopies and much fewer leaves, and the leaves that are still there might look unhealthy
- Peeling bark: if bark is peeling away from a trunk, this is a serious sign of decay beneath the surface
- Fungal growth: mushrooms and other fungi growing at a tree’s base or on its roots and trunk is a sign that a tree is starting to decompose
- Unstable trunks: if your property’s tree is leaning unnaturally, it might mean that the roots are compromised, which could lead to the tree falling
Could Zombie Trees Be Saved?
It is possible to save a zombie tree, but it depends on how far along the decline process is. If caught early, specific treatments and care can help save the tree. First, get in touch with a certified arborist, a professional who can assess your tree’s health and offer options like cabling, pruning, or bracing.
Tree Care and Maintenance from Harford Tree
Ready to have the beautiful yard you have always dreamed of? Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping, Inc has been in the business for decades, providing customers with quality work and quick responses all at the right price. We service the areas of Harford County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City areas including Bel Air, Fallston, Perry Hall, Towson, Essex, Parkville, White Marsh and Middle River.
For service during business hours, reach out to us or give us a call at 410-592-7321. We offer 24/7 emergency service as well, just give us a call at 443-250-6649. For updates about our business and more informative tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.